1662 1604 S. L. thou hast little, do thy diligence gladly to give of that little; for so gatherest thou thyself a good reward in the day of necessity. Tob. iv. He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and look, what he layeth out, it shall be paid him again. Prov. xix. Blessed be the man that provideth for the sick and needy; the Lord shall deliver him in the time of trouble. Psalm xli. Whilst these sentences are in reading, the Deacons, Churchwardens, or other fit person appointed for that purpose, shall receive the Alms for the poor, and other Then shall the Churchwardens, or same other by them appointed, gather the devotion of the people, and put the same into the poor man's box, and upon the 1549 thou hast little, do thy diligence gladly to give of that little; for so gatherest thou thyself a good reward in the day of necessity. Tob. iv. He that hath pity upon the poor, lendeth unto the Lord; and look, what he layeth out, it shall be paid him again. Prov. xix. Blessed be the man that provideth for the sick and needy; the Lord shall deliver him in the time of trouble. Psalm xli. Then shall the Churchwardens, or some other by them appointed, gather the devotion of the people, and put the same into the poor men's box: and upon the Where there be Clerks, they shall sing one or many of the sentences above written, according to the length and shortness of the time that the people be offering. In the meantime, whiles the Clerks do sing the Offertory, so many as are disposed shall offer to the poor men's box every one according to his ability and charitable mind. And at the offering days appointed, every man and woman shail pay to the Curate the due and accustomed offerings. Then so many as shall be partakers of the The Lord be with you. Priest. Answer. the Lord. And with thy spirit. Priest. Let us give thanks to our Lord God. Answer. It is meet and right so to do. The Priest. It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks to thee, O Lord, holy Father, almighty everlasting God. BB 1662 devotions of the people, in a decent basin, to be provided by the Parish for that purpose; and reverently bring it to the Priest, who shall humbly present and place it upon the holy Table. And when there is a Communion, the Priest shall then place upon the Table so much Bread and Wine, as he shall think sufficient. After which done, the Priest shall say, Let us pray for the whole state of Christ's Church militant here in earth. A LMIGHTY and everliving God, who by thy holy Apostle hast taught us to make prayers, and supplications, and to give thanks for all men; We humbly beseech thee most mercifully [to accept our alms and oblations, | alms, and] to receive alms or oblations, and] to receive these then shall the our prayers, words[of accepting our aims and oblations be left If there be no out unsaid. which we offer unto thy Divine Majesty; beseeching thee to inspire con these It there be no Alms given Funto the poor, ten shall the words of accepting our aims] be left ont unsaid. tinually the universal Church with the spirit of truth, unity and concord: And grant, that all they that do confess thy holy name may agree in the truth of thy holy Word, and live in unity, and godly love. We beseech thee also to save and defend all Christian Kings, princes, and governors; and specially thy servant 'CHARLES our King; that under him we may be godly and quietly governed: and grant unto his whole Council, and to all that are put in authority under him, that they may truly and indifferently minister justice, to the punishment of wickedness and vice, and to the maintenance of thy true religion, and virtue. grace, O heavenly Father, to all' Bishops, and Curates, that they may both by their life and doctrine set forth thy true and lively word, and rightly and duly administer thy holy Sacraments. And to all thy people give thy heavenly grace, and especially to this congregation here present; that with meek heart and due reverence, they may hear and receive thy holy word, truly serving thee in holiness and righteousness all the days of their life.* And we most humbly beseech thee of thy Give While the Presbyter distinctly pronounceth some or all of these sentences for the offertory, the Deacon or (if no such be present) one of the Churchwardens shall receive the devotions of the people there present in a bason provided for that purpose. And when all have offered, he shall reverently bring the said bason with the oblations therein, and deliver it to the Presbyter, who shall humbly present it before the Lord, and set it upon the holy Table. And the Presbyter shall then offer up and place the bread and wine prepared for the Sacrament upon the Lord's Table, that it may be ready for that service. And then he shall say, [S. L.] 2 which [604] [S. L.] to [S. L.] James [1604] be [1604] [S. L.] 7 Bishops, Pastors, and Curates [1604] [S. L.] 3 God's true religion [1604] [S. L.] and specially [1604] and especially to this congregation here present omitted [S. L.] * In the Scotch Liturgy, 1637, the remainder of this Prayer is as follows: [And we commend especially unto thy merciful goodness the congregation which is here assembled in thy name to celebrate the commemoration of the 1559 1552 offering days appointed, every man and woman shall pay to the Curate the due and accustomed offerings; after which done, the Priest shall say, 1549 Let us pray for the whole 10 estate of Christ's Church militant here in earth. A If there be 11 no the poor, then shall the words of accepting our unsaid. LMIGHTY and everliving God, which by thy holy Apostle hast taught us to make prayers and supplications, and to give thanks for all men; We humbly beseech thee most mercifully alins given unte (to accept our almose) &c. to receive these our prayers, which we alms be left out offer unto thy divine Majesty; beseeching thee to inspire continually the universal church with the Spirit of truth, unity, and concord; And grant that all they that do confess thy holy name may agree in the truth of thy holy word, and live in unity and godly love. We beseech thee also to save and defend all Christian Kings, Princes, and Governors; and specially thy servant 12 Elizabeth our Queen; that under 13 her we may be godly and quietly governed and grant unto her whole Council, and to all that be : When there is no Communion, most precious death and sacrifice of thy Son and our Saviour Jesus Christ.] And we most humbly beseech thee of thy goodness, O Lord, to comfort and succour all them which in this are transitory life be in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other to be left out. adversity. And we also bless thy holy name for all those thy these words thus inclosed servants, who having finished their course in faith, do now rest from their labours. And we yield unto thee most high praise and hearty thanks for the wonderful grace and virtue declared in all thy saints, who have been the choice vessels of thy grace, and the lights of the world in their several generations; most humbly beseeching thee, that we may have grace to follow the example of their stedfastness in thy faith, and obedience to thy holy commandments, that at the day of the general resurrection, we, and all they which are of the mystical body of thy Son, may be set on his right hand, and hear that his most joyful voice, Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Grant this, O Father, for Jesus Christ's sake our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen. [S. L.] 10 state [1552] 12 Edward our king [1552] none [1552] 13 him [1552] 14 his [1552] goodness, O Lord, to comfort and succour all them, 'who in this transitory life are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity. And we also bless thy holy sity: Grant this, O Father, for Name for all thy servants departed Jesus Christ's sake, our only Mediathis life in thy faith and fear; be- tor and Advocate. Amen. seeching thee to give us grace so to follow their good examples, that with them we may be partakers of thy heavenly kingdom: Grant this, O Father, for Jesus Christ's sake, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen. 1 which [1604] 2 be [1604] [S. L.] 3 through God's assistance, to administer to all such as shall be religiously and devoutly disposed the most comfortable Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ; to be by them received in remembrance of his meritorious Cross and Passion; whereby alone we obtain remission of our sins, and are made partakers of the Kingdom of heaven. Wherefore it is our duty to render most humble and hearty thanks to Almighty God our heavenly Father, for that he hath given his Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, not only to die for us, but also to be our spiritual food and sustenance in that holy Sacrament. Which being so divine and comfortable a thing to them who receive it worthily, and so dangerous to them that will presume to receive it unworthily; my duty is to exhort you in the mean season to consider the dignity of that holy mystery, and the great peril of the unworthy receiving thereof; and so to search and examine your own consciences, (and that not lightly, and after the manner of dissemblers with God; but so) that ye may come holy and clean to such a heavenly feast, in the mar |